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DOT sends message with texting ban
January 26, 2010
| by: Randy Grider
![texting web1b[1]](http://www.truckersnews.com/files/2010/01/texting-web1b1-300x171.jpg)
The U.S Department of Transportation Jan. 26 announced it is immediately prohibiting truck and bus drivers from sending text messages while operating commercial vehicles.
Truck and bus drivers who text while driving commercial vehicles may be subject to civil or criminal penalties of up to $2,750. The DOT action doesn’t prohibit the use of cell phones for purposes other than text messaging.
Nineteen states and the District of Columbia already prohibit all drivers from texting behind the wheel, according to the Governors Highway Safety Association. Another 10 states restrict texting by novice drivers.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration research shows that drivers who send and receive text messages take their eyes off the road for an average of 4.6 seconds out of every 6 seconds while texting. At 55 miles per hour, this means the driver is traveling the length of a football field, including the end zones, without looking at the road.
The prohibition is the latest in a series of actions taken by DOT to combat distracted driving since DOT Secretary Ray LaHood convened a national summit on the issue last September.
“We want the drivers of big rigs and buses and those who share the roads with them to be safe,” LaHood said. “This is an important safety step and we will be taking more to eliminate the threat of distracted driving.”
Drivers who text while driving are more than 20 times more likely to get in an accident than non-distracted drivers. Because of the safety risks associated with the use of electronic devices while driving, FMCSA is also working on additional regulatory measures that will be announced in the coming months.
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as usual go after the truck drivers and leave the cars alone. more accidents are caused by 4 wheelers texting and cell phones. but as usual all one sided.
i so dont think that this is fair. how come its the truckers that are being targeted? AGAIN? why dont they go after the drivers in the cars for once?? if you get caught texting while driving a car, in NC, your fine is 100.00. but you get caught texting in a truck the fine jumps to 2,750.00? thats a 2,650.00 increase. come on now!! give me a break!!
This is not fair at all. These kids with No Parents Disciplinary. These are the Kids on Our Highways going cause the most deadly accidents. Theses kids, Don’t know what NO means. All of these New Generation Parents Let them do all illegal things. No Punishment at All. We always have about 5-10 accidents/day. Most all of them are Young Punks driving and Texting. You don’t see Cops Tasering them. Cops Texts too.
I GUESS WE WONT BE ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE DRIVERS SEAT WHILE DRIVING TO GET SOMETHING OUT OF THE SLEEPER NEXT ?OR ROLL A JOINT WHILE DRIVING ?
This is not a big deal. There is a simple solution called speech to text…. They didn’t say you couldn’t talk while behind the wheel.
YET!!!!!
I say it is a big deal.I almost feel like a foriegner in my own country being a driver.Every time you turn around there are new laws,changed laws,and rumors of more to come.It gets challenging just to keeping up with it.Then on top of that the fines are so hi on an already taxed to death industry its ridiculous!!!!
I recently watched a State Trooper in South Carolina unable to maintain his own lane. Never guess what he was doing when he passed me! Thats right! Doing what most 4 wheeler drivers do while driving past me, text messaging!
That seems to be their excuse for failing to indicate. Since coming to this country 5 years ago I have been counting how many legal lane changes I have caught law enforcement doing my count is now upto 27.
I agree with this 1000%. If you must text get off the rode!! I would take it one step further and if caught with the phone in your hand the same charges!! And this should be across the board for “Everyone” driving “Any Type” of vehicle. Whether it is a Truck,Car,Boat or Horse you get fined. Gezzzz you spend money on the darn thing. Get a hands free device guys and gals
I can see it now. Driver ticketed for texting even though he was just dialing his wife to talk. How are they going to know the difference?? Invade your privacy and check all your messaging?
It’s about time four wheelers are held acountable for their actions too. We all share the road and they are the ones that lack knowledge and experience.
they sent a mesage all rite,but the wrong one. if texting and driving is dangerous,the ban should be for everyone,and the fine should be equal.the mesage they have sent is that once again we see your cdl as an atm card,to fleece you for a lot more of your money.come on $2750.i will bet there are going to be all kinds of small town cops out on the freeway watching for truck drivers texting while driving,while watching several drunk drivers pass him by because there is no money in it. not safety but how much we can put in our bank acounts,when there is no money on a ticket only points that will cause someone to lose there privilege to drive,then we will start to see things that are causing the most accidents and fatalities becoming the top priority
I have way more 4 wheelers pass me driving with knees than ever now. there the big problem yes texting while driving is dangerous we drive more miles in a month than the drive in a year granted I have seen some drivers look like they forgot they were driving down the road but the law should be equal for everyone
The “brat texting” situation is the real problem..We’ve passed some kind of “half-fast” law in Georgia about 18 year olds…But, I guarantee you it won’t be enforced…I had a little experience with the texting by teens as a sub teacher before I got with Kleenoil. It is an absolute nightmare trying to stop those kids from texting in class….I can imagine how much fun it will be trying to stop them driving down the hiway and texting…It’s not the truckers that are the problem….TC
Next it will be banning CB’s
Yeah, I agree, four wheelers are notorious for texting while driving. These guys get behind the wheel, drive with their knee and text without even paying attention. Up here in the Northwest it’s illegal for anyone to text while driving. At least that’s better than just picking on truckers…
i think everyone that is stupid enough to text and drive should get there lic. to drive taken away and a 10,000.00 fine but truckdrivers should be prof. enough to know better but everyone deseves the same treatment